Authorities make one of country's largest fentanyl seizures in Omaha

The United States Attorney's Office says a man transporting more than 33 pounds of fentanyl was arrested in Omaha

WEBVTT IS HERE LIVE.REPORTER: THOSE I TALKED WITH INBOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEMEDICAL FIELD COULDN'T BELIEVEHOW MUCH FENTANYL WAS FOUND.JUST A SMALL AMOUNT CAN STOPYOUR BREATHING, QUICKLY LEADINGTO DEATH.AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADDICTIONEDUCATION AT UNMC, DR. ALENABALASANOVA KNOWS THE DANGEROUSOF FENTANYL.>> IT'S A REALLY HEAVY DUTYOPIOID.IT'S 100 TIMES MORE POTENT THANMORPHINE AND 50 TIMES MOREPOTENT THAN HEROIN.REPORTER: IT'S USED AS ANANASTHESIA DURING SURGERY, ORTAKEN AS A PAINKILLER, MOSTLYDURING END OF LIFE CARE.THE CONCERN NOW, DRUG CARTELSCREATING FENTANYL AND MIXING ITWITH HEROIN.USERS UNAWARE THEY'RE EVENTAKING IT.>> YOU NEED SUCH A TINY AMOUNTTO OVERDOSE, AND IF YOU DON'TKNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AND YOUTHINK YOUR GETTING HEROIN,THAT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.REPORTER: LIKE THIS PAST AUGUSTIN COUNCIL BLUFFS, FOUR PEOPLEOVERDOSING IN A SINGLE DAY,THREE OF THEM IN A GAS STATIONPARKING LOT.>> IT'S VERY CONCERNING JUSTBECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF THESESYNTHETIC OPIOIDS.IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE HOWDANGEROUS THEY ARE.REPORTER: LIEUTENANT MIKEEARHART HAS WORKED WITH THESARPY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICEFOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, NEVERCOMING ACROSS A DRUG ASCONCERNING AS THIS.>> IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY MUCH.A COUPLE LIKE GRAINS OF SALTCOULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT YOU ANDPOSSIBLY KILL YOU.REPORTER: WHICH IS WHAT MAKESTHIS RECENT BUST IN OMAHA SO JAWDROPPING.33 POUNDS OF FENTANYL.>> I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM.I MEAN, IT IS AN ASTRONOMICALAMOUNT OF FENTANYL.REPORTER: DR. BALASANOVA CREDITSLAW ENFORCEMENT FOR FINDING IT,AND REMINDS US ADDICTION IS ACHRONIC BRAIN DISEASE.SHE ENCOURAGES THOSE WHOSTRUGGLE TO GET HELP.>> WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO ALLTHESE FOLKS, AND WELCOME THEM TOCOME TO TREATMENT BEFORESOMETHING LIKE FENTANYL HAPPENSTO THEM.REPORTER: FENTANYL IS ALSO VERYDANGEROUS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. INHALING JUST A SMALL AMOUNT CANBE DEADLY.THAT'S WHY AGENCIES ACROSS THEMETRO, INCLUDING SARPY COUNTY,ARE GETTING WHAT'S CALLEDNALOXONE OR NARCAN.THE NASAL SPRAY REVERSES THEDRUGS EFFECTS.IT CAN EVEN BE USED ON K-9S.

Authorities make one of country's largest fentanyl seizures in Omaha

The United States Attorney's Office says a man transporting more than 33 pounds of fentanyl was arrested in Omaha

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Navarro-Aguirre was traveling on the Amtrak train and waiting at the station when a Drug Enforcement Administration agent was doing a routine surveillance there and noticed a suspicious person with a bag.

"We have officers that are trained to pick out people that are different than the normal traveling public," Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Jason Scott said.

According to an affidavit, Navarro-Aguirre said it was his friend's bag, and he denied that anything illegal was inside.

"This fentanyl seizure is the largest ever in Nebraska and one of the largest in the nation," a news released from the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Fentanyl is an opioid drug 40 to 50 times more potent than heroin. Local experts say it only takes a small amount, about 3 milligrams, for the drug to be fatal.

"This is playing Russian Roulette knowing every cylinder has a bullet in it," DEA Associate Special Agent in Charge Matt Barden said.

With that in mind, the amount seized by authorities in its pure form would be enough to kill approximately 4.9 million people, or nearly the entire populations of Iowa and Nebraska.

"I think it was literally one mishap away from something extremely tragic for Nebraska," Lt. Scott said, "dropping a suitcase or it being cut open, this is in a public venue, this was not in a private room."

Barden says the current drug epidemic in the United States is the worst anyone has seen. He's urging families to be aware of fentanyl, and to be vigilant.

"We all need to be on the look out for suspicious activities, we all need to speak up and speak out," Barden said.

Navarro-Aguirre is facing a charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl. The penalty carries a minimum of 10 years with a maximum of life in prison.

The 27-year-old will appear in federal court Friday afternoon.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nebraska State Patrol.